Material handling device



M. P. WHITMORE ETAL MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Aug. 20, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. '22, 3.960

Mf/foo W/liimore [ac/o Madda/e/m INVENTORS BY A 1963 M. P. WHITMORE ETAL3,101,152

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mi/fop ,9l V/mmare [ac/'0 Madda/e/m INV EN TORS am no 3,lfil,l52 MATERIALHANDLENG DEVECE Milton 1. Whitmorc, Tampa, and Lucio Maddalena, Orlando,Fla., assignors to Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Filed Jan. 22, 18 60, Ser. No. 4,146 9 Claims.(6!. 214-3tl7) This invention relates to material handling devices andis more particularly concerned with a type of receptacle used in thecitrus industry, which is adapted to be mounted and conveyed by a forklift type truck.

While the basic inventive concept is by no means limited to this type ofconveyance, that form of the invention herein set forth by way ofillustration, is specifically adapted to such equipment. It will, ofcourse, be understood that the vehicle forms no part of the presentinvention and that the device herein set forth may be mounted on andoperated by a wide variety of such devices and that it may be readilyadapted, by those skilled in the art, to vehicles of an entirelydifferent nature.

In carrying out our invention in one form, we provide a supportingstructure adapted to be mounted on a fork lift truck or the like. Thesupporting structure cooperates with a rod to support a container whichhas its bottom pivotally attached thereto by means of the rod. Thesupporting structure also includes means for actuating the bottombetween open and closed positions.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel,simple and improved self unloading material handling device in which thebottom may be readily and easily opened to permit discharge of material.It is a further object to provide a material handling device of the typeset forth in which the bottom may be opened for discharge of material asan incident to a vertical movement of the normal supporting structurefor the receptacle. More specifically, it is an obect of the presentinvention to provide a material handling device for a fork lift ve hiclewhich is particularly :adapted for use in the citrus industry. Numerousother objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from a consideration of the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention as appliedto a conventional fork lift type truck,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the supporting means for thereceptacle,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the supporting structure showing thesupport of the receptacle with the bottom in closed position, and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the bottom open fordischarge of material from the receptacle.

In that form of the invention here set forth, the device, generallyindicated by the numeral 16, is adapted to be supported and elevated bya fork lift type of vehicle generally indicated by the numeral 11.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not concernedwith structural details or arrangement for power mechanism of the lifttruck here indicated. Therefore, no specific discussion of the mechanismherein shown by way of illustration is believed appropriate. Suchgenerally conventional material handling equipient, regardless of makeand whether or not the lift mechanism is mechanically, hydraulically orelectrically powered, may be characterized as including uprightstandards here identified by the numerals 12, between which,

lifting mechanism including chains 13, providefor the elevation orlowering, by power mechanism, of mounting members 14. Such members areof a wide variety and type, variously designed to suit various materialhandling problems, as for instance, to support forks, clamps, cranes,receptacles and the like. In the present instance, a similar pair ofvertically spaced parallel mounting base members 14 are illustrated.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a face plate 1'5 uponthe upper ed-ge of which is mounted a pair of longitudinally spacedhooks lo. Hooks I16 serve to secure plate 15 to upper member 14 througha rabbeted construction indicated at 17. At each end of the generallyrectangular plate 15, a forwardly extending plate 13 is secured. Eachplate 18 has a configuration, as shown, including recess 19 in the upperedge thereof for a reason explained hereinafter. A generally downwardlyextending tilt bar link 2% is pivotally connected at its upper end tothe inner face of each support plate 18 as at 2%. At its lower end eachlink 2% is formed with a bearing connection 21 engaging one end of atransverse tilt bar 22 thereby forming a transverse U-shaped tiltassembly pivotal about the upper ends of links 20. A toggle 26comprising a pair of pivotally connected links is pivotally connected atone end to the inner face of each suppont plate 18 as at 28, and at theother end to the one end of tilt bar 22 as at 27. A double-acting fluidactuator 24 is pivotally connected to the inner face of each supportplate 18 at 23. The piston rod 25 of each actuator 24 is pivotallyconnected to respective ones of toggle 26 at the pivotal connection ofthe links of each toggle. The fluid actuator and toggle assembly servesto actuate the U-shaped tilt assembly 2%, 22 between forwardly andrearwardly disposed positions for a purpose which will be explainedshortly.

A pair of forwardly and downwardly extending truncated parallel bracketsSit are secured to base plate :15 intermediate support plates 18.Secured to the outer ends of the brackets 31} is a transverse bearingplate 31 which preferably is located a substantial distance beneath andslightly rearwardly of recesses 19.

A receptacle or container 35 is adapted to be supported by supportplates 18 and bearing plate 31 of the abovedescribed support assembly ina plane substantially parallel to the truck supporting surface. Thecontainer pref erably comprises a rectangular arrangement of foursidewalls 32 of frame and wire mesh construction and a bottom 36pivotally connected to side walls 32. It will be appreciated thatconfigurations other than rectangular could be utilized, and also thatthe sidewall construction could be of solid construction, for exarnple,rather than of frame and Wire mesh construction.

The container 35 has a rod '33 which extends trans- 'versely of thecontainer and beyond the sidewalls adjacent the upper rear edge portionthereof. The projecting portions of rod 33 are adapted to be received byrecesses 19 in support plates 18 for supporting container 35 forelevation in the upright 012 while bearing plate 31 isadapted to bearagainst the rear wall of the container and erves to support thecontainer against downward rotative movement and to maintain samehorizontal. It will be understood, of course, that any suitableprojecting elements could be secured to the side walls of the containerin substitution of rod 33.

The bottom assembly 3% of the container comprises a rectangular closureplate having a transverse dimension which is preferably somewhat largerthan the corresponding dimension between the sidewalls of the containerand somewhat smaller than the distance between support plates 13. A pairof upwardly extending triangular side plates 34 are secured to oppositeends of the closure plate and rare pivotally connected to and supportedby the projecting portions of rod 33 in the apex portions thereof andintermediate the container sidewalls and the support plates 18. It willbe appreciated that the projecting ends of rod 33 include both a supportportion which is received in recesses 19 for supporting the entirecontainer 35 and a bearing portion upon which the side plates 34 arepivoted.

The operation of our invention will now be described. Assume thatcontainer 35 is resting upon the ground in a citrus orchard and isloaded with citrus fruit. In order to transport the loaded container toanother location, a lift truck having the support assembly mountedthereon is maneuvered into position and picks up the loaded container byengaging the projecting outer portions of rod 33 in recesses 19whereupon the hoist mechanism 12, 13, d4 is elevated. In order toprevent bottom assembly 36 from opening, the U-shaped tilt assembly 20,22 is held in a forwardly disposed position in abutment with the rearedges of side plates 34 by the hydraulic actuators and toggles 24 and 26located as shown in FIGURE 3. The loaded container may be deposited at anew location merely by reversing the pick-up operation. If it is desiredto unload the container at the new location, then itis held at a desiredelevation and the bottom 36 is opened by retracting at a desired ratethe actuator and toggle assembly 24, 26 which permits the U-shaped tiltassembly 2%, 22 to move to its rearwardly disposed position Whereby theweight of the bottom closure assembly 35, as well as the weight of theload. causes the closure assembly to pivot about rod 33 at the desiredrate provided by rearward movement of rod 22. The rate of load dischargeis controlled both by the rate of actuator movement and by the extent ofretraction thereof which may be controlled by the operator. Duringdumping operations container portion 32 continues to be disposed asshown in FIGURE 4 while the side plates 34- a-re retracted intermediatethe sidewalls 32 and support plates 18 since the bottom assemblyembodies no rear wall'and intermediate support 31 will not interferewith said action. Extension of the actuators 24 will return the links oftoggles 26 to coaxial position moving bar 22 forwardly to close thebottom closure assembly.

Heretofore mechanization of citrus fruit handling has not met with muchsuccess because the fruit must be handled with care in order to avoidbruising it. The present invention provides a relatively simple andlowcost device which is capable of handling citrus fruit and other sucheasily damaged goods with minimum bruising.

Further, our device is well adapted to economical operation. Forexample, a number of containers 35 can be located in an orchard atintermediate collection points to be filled by the pickers and servicedby a single lift truck having the support assembly attached thereto. Theloaded containers can be transported to a central collection point bythe lift truck where they can be stored, or unloaded and returned to theintermediate collection point. Loaded containers-can also be depositeddirectly onto a flatbed truck or other vehicle for transport to adistant location wherein another lift truck utilizing the presentinvention unloads the containers from the vehicle and then either storethe same or dump the contents at any desired place.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is here shownin oneof its many commercially feasible embodiments but that in the practiceof the invention, numerous changes, modifications and the full use ofeuivalents may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scopeof the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A material handling device of the character set forth including areceptacle having side walls, a bottom closure, means extending fromadjacent the upper edges of said side walls to provide lifting means forsaid receptacle and side members extending upwardly from said closurepivotally engaging said lifting means, and means for controlling thepivotal movement of said side members and hence said bottom closure.

2. In a material handling device a receptacle having a closed Wallstructure, a top and bottom opening defining edges of said wallstructure, a bottom closure pivotally mounted from said wall structurefor opening and closing the bottom opening thereof and a commonreceptacle support and bottom closure mounting means mounted on saidWall structure, releasable means for restraining said bottom closureagainst pivotal movement away from said bottom edges, and means forsupporting said receptacle from said common support and mounting meansand preventing pivotal movement in one direction of said wall structureabout said mounting means.

3. A material handling device for use with lift trucks comprising abottom unloading receptacle having receptacle forming walls, meanssecured to said walls engageable with lift mechanism of a lift truck forraising and lowering said receptacle, a bottom closure for saidreceptacle and means secured to said walls mounting said bottom closurefor pivotal opening and closing movement and located closely adjacentsaid engageable means, means operatively connected to the lift mechanismof the lift truck for preventing tilting movement of said receptacle inat least one direction, and means movable with the lift mechanism of thelift truck for controlling the pivotal movements of said bottom closure.

- 4. A material handling device for use with lift trucks comprising abottom unloading receptacle having receptacle forming walls open at thetop and bottom, pivoted closure means. for opening and closing thebottom opening and means mounted on said Walls having a first portionfor supporting said receptacle from lift mechanism of a lift truck anda'second portion mounting said pivoted closure, means for preventingtilting of said receptacle in at least one direction when said bottomopening is open, and means movable with the lift mechanism of the lifttruck for controlling the pivotal movements of said bottom closure.

5. A material handling device for use with lift trucks comprising abottom unloading receptacle having receptacle forming walls open at thetop and bottom, pivoted closure means for opening and closing the bottomopening and means secured adjacent the upper edge of said walls having afirst portion for supporting said receptacle from lift mechanism of alift truck and a second portion mounting said pivoted closure, meanscooperating with said first portion to prevent pivotal movement of saidreceptacle about said first portion, and means movable with the liftmechanism of the lift truck for controlling the pivotal movements ofsaid bottom closure.

6. A material handling device for use with lift trucks comprising abottom unloading receptacle having recepta-cle forming walls open at thetop and bottom, pivoted closure means for opening and closing the bottomopening and means secured adjacent the upper edge of said walls having afirst portion for supporting said receptacle from lift mechanism of alift truck and a second portion mounting said pivot closure, means formaintaining said receptaole in a fixed position during opening movementof the closure means, and means movable with the lift mechanism of thelift truck for controlling the pivotal movements of said bottom closure,said movable means including remotely controlled hydraulic cylindersoperable independently of movements of the lift mechanism.

7. For use in a fork lift truck, a material handling device comprising areceptacle having a plurality of side walls, transversely protrudingmeans adjacent the upper edges of two opposite sides constitutingreceptacle lifting means, a lifting member carried by the lift mechanismof the truck, arms extending from said lifting member engageable withsaid lift-ing means to raise and lower said receptacle, a bottom closurefor said receptacle, side members extending from said bottom closure tosaid lifting means, pivotal mountings for said side members engagingsaid lifting means, movable means supported from said lifting memberengageable with said side members for restraining pivotal movement ofsaid side members, and means supported from said lifting member andengaging said receptacle below said pivotal mountings for precludingtilting movement [of said receptacle when said closure is pivoted uponpivotal movement of said side members.

8. For use with a vehicle, a material handling device comprising asupport assembly adapted to be attached to the vehicle, a container, abottom for said container'pivotal between open and closed positions,means pivotally connecting said bottom to said container, means forsupporting said container from said support assembly, said connectingmeans and said pivot means comprising a common member, intermediatesupport means cooperable with said first support means for maintainingsaid container in a given position during opening movement of saidbottom, and means for actuating said bottom be tween its open and closedpositions and being disposable 15 in straddling relation to saidmaintaining means.

6 9. A material handling device as claimed in claim 8 wherein saidbottom includes upwardly extending side members connected to said pivotmeans, said actuating means being adapted to engage an edge of each sidemem- 5 ber for controlling the posit-ion of said bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSFOREIGN PATENTS 649,697 France Sept. 4, 1928

8. FOR USE WITH A VEHICLE, A MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE COMPRISING ASUPPORT ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, A CONTAINER, ABOTTOM FOR SAID CONTAINER PIVOTAL BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS,MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID BOTTOM TO SAID CONTAINER, MEANS FORSUPPORTING SAID CONTAINER FROM SAID SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, SAID CONNECTINGMEANS AND SAID PIVOT MEANS COMPRISING A COMMON MEMBER, INTERMEDIATESUPPORT MEANS COOPERABLE